Joint communication sessions

ABSTRACT

Online communication sessions may be joined in an environment that includes receiving a first communication between a first user and a second user and enabling the rendering of the first communication at devices associated with the first and second users. A second communication between the first user and a third user is received and the rendering of the second communication at devices associated with the first and third users is enabled. After receiving the first and second communications, a trigger to join at least the communication sessions associated with the first, second, and third users is received from the first, second, or third user. Information structured and arranged to render, in a single window, text associated with the first and second communications at the devices associated with the first, second, and third users is generated.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/620,566 filed on Sep. 14, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/223,696 filed on Sep. 1, 2011, which is nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,688,785, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/535,565 filed on Sep. 27, 2006, which is nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,015,247, which claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/803,111 filed on May 24,2006. Each of the aforementioned patents and applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to personal communication sessions.

BACKGROUND

Individuals may communicate over the Internet using personalcommunication sessions. An individual communicating with multiple peoplemay use multiple communication sessions.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, joining online communication sessions includesreceiving a first communication between a first user and a second userand enabling the rendering of the first communication at devicesassociated with the first and second users. A second communicationbetween the first user and a third user is received and the rendering ofthe second communication at devices associated with the first and thirdusers is enabled. After receiving the first and second communication, atrigger to join at least the communication sessions associated with thefirst, second, and third users is received from the first, second, orthird user. Information structured and arranged to render, in a singlewindow, text associated with the first and second communications at thedevices associated with the first, second, and third users is generated.

Implementations may include one or more additional features. Forinstance, a third communication between the second user and the thirduser may be received and the rendering of the third communication at thedevices associated with the second and third users may be enabled beforereceiving the trigger. Information structured and arranged to render, ina single window, text associated with the first, second, and thirdcommunications at the devices associated with the first, second, andthird users may be generated.

Receiving a trigger to join at least the communication sessions betweenthe first, second, and third users may include receiving a trigger tojoin the communication sessions between the first, second, and thirdusers, and a fourth user, where the fourth user is not involved in acommunication session with any of the first, second, or third users.Information structured and arranged to render text associated with thefirst and second communications at the device associated with the fourthuser may be generated.

Enabling the rendering of the first communication session may includegenerating information structured and arranged to render informationassociated with the first communication at only either one or both ofthe devices associated with either the first or second users.

In another general aspect, joining online communication sessionsincludes sending, from a user to multiple specified users, a trigger tojoin two or more user-to-user communication sessions which includeprevious user communications to multiple specified user, into a jointcommunication session and rendering, at a device associated with theuser, the joint communication session including some or all of the textrendered in each of the user communications prior to the sending of thetrigger. Future communications directed to the joint communication fromusers associated with the joint communication are rendered at the deviceassociated with the user.

Implementations may include one or more additional features. Forinstance, at least one of the communication sessions may not have beenrendered at the device prior to the sending of the trigger.

Sending a trigger to join two or more user-to-user communicationsessions may include sending a trigger configured to establish a jointcommunication in which at least some of the text associated with eachprevious user communication is included in the rendered jointcommunication. The trigger may be configured to establish a jointcommunication in which at least some of the text associated with eachprevious user communication involving the first user is included in therendered joint communication. The trigger also may be configured toestablish a joint communication in which none of the text of previoususer communications is included in the rendered joint communication, orto establish a joint communication in which users not included in theuser-to-user communication sessions are enabled to be included in thejoint communication.

Users not included in the user-to-user communication sessions may beenabled to be included in the joint communication after the jointcommunication is rendered. Sending a trigger to join two or moreuser-to-user communication sessions may include sending a triggerconfigured to establish a joint communication in which a user may sendmedia content to be rendered with the joint communication session.

User communications in the joint communication may be rendered inchronological order. A chronological indication between usercommunications occurring before establishment of the joint communicationand those occurring after establishment of the joint communication maybe rendered.

In a further general aspect, an article includes a computer-readablemedium having encoded thereon software instructions for enabling theestablishment and rendering of a joint communication at jointcommunication users, where the joint communication includes textassociated with user-to-user communications which were originally sentfrom and to the joint communication users, and text associated with afirst communication sent from any of the joint communication users. Theinstructions also cause the computer to enable the establishment andrendering of the joint communication to an additional user, after thesending of the first communication, where that joint communicationincludes text associated with user-to-user communications which wereoriginally sent from and to the joint communication users, textassociated with a user-to-user communication between a user of the jointcommunication and the additional user communication, and text associatedwith the first communication sent from any of the joint communicationusers.

Implementation may include one or more additional features. Forinstance, the instructions may enable text associated withcommunications in the joint communication to be rendered inchronological order. The instructions also may enable the jointcommunication to include a chronological indication between textassociated with communications before the establishment of the jointcommunication and text associated with communications after theestablishment of the joint communication.

Further, the instructions may enable the joint communication users to beconnected to the Internet using multiple communication programs or to beclosed for all users by the selection of an option to cancel by one ofthe joint communication users.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth below. Otherfeatures and advantages will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication system with multiple users.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary graphical user-interface including personalcommunications and a joint communications selection window.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary graphical user-interface of a communicationoptions window for joint communications.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are exemplary graphical user-interfaces of jointcommunications.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary flow charts of processes to send jointcommunications.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Personal communication software enables a user to send communications(e.g., text messages) over the Internet to a specified recipient in alive format. Since personal communications are not broadcasted publicly,they offer privacy to users. Also, since personal communication may beinitiated by typing or clicking on a username, they are a relativelyquick and easy method of communication with specified users.

Users may wish to communicate with multiple users in a personalcommunication environment. For example, a user may wish to engage inprivate communication with two other users such that all text messagesare seen concurrently by all parties. Further, the user may wish tospecify the other included users. This may be accomplished by enabling auser of personal communication programs (e.g., AOL Instant Messenger) tojoin multiple personal communications (e.g., instant messages or IMs)into a joint communication.

FIG. 1 illustrates a communications system 100 including a firstcommunication participant system 105 communicating with a host system110 through a communications link 115. The first communicationsparticipant system 105 typically includes one or more user devices 120and/or user controllers 125, and the host system 110 typically includesone or more host devices 135 and/or host controllers 140. For example,the first communications participant system 105 or the host system 110may include one or more general-purpose computers (e.g., personalcomputers), one or more special-purpose computers (e.g., devicesspecifically programmed to communicate with each other and/or the firstcommunications participant system 105 or the host system 110), or acombination of one or more general-purpose computers and one or morespecial-purpose computers. The first communications participant system105 and the host system 110 may be arranged to operate within or inconcert with one or more other systems, such as, for example, one ormore LANs (“Local Area Networks”) and/or one or more WANs (“Wide AreaNetworks”).

The user device 120 and the host device 135 are generally capable ofexecuting instructions under the command of, respectively, the usercontroller 125 and the host controller 140. The user device 120 and thehost device 135 are connected to, respectively, the user controller 125and the host controller 140 by, respectively, wired or wireless datapathways 130 and 145, which are capable of delivering data.

The user device 120, the user controller 125, the host device 135, andthe host controller 140 typically each include one or more hardwarecomponents and/or software components. An example of a user device 120or a host device 135 is a general-purpose computer (e.g., a personalcomputer) or software on such a computer capable of responding to andexecuting instructions in a defined manner. Other examples include aspecial-purpose computer, a workstation, a server, a device, acomponent, other physical or virtual equipment or some combination ofthese capable of responding to and executing instructions. The userdevice 120 and the host device 135 may include devices that are capableof establishing peer-to-peer communications.

An example of user controller 125 or host controller 140 is a softwareapplication loaded on the user device 120 or the host device 135 forcommanding and directing communications enabled by the user device 120or the host device 135. Other examples include a program, a piece ofcode, an instruction, a device, a computer, a computer system, or acombination of these for independently or collectively instructing theuser device 120 or the host device 135 to interact and operate asdescribed. The user controller 125 and the host controller 140 may beembodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component,physical or virtual equipment, or storage medium capable of providinginstructions to the user device 120 and the host device 135.

The communications link 115 typically includes a delivery network 160that provides direct or indirect communication between the firstcommunications participant system 105 and the host system 110,irrespective of physical separation. Examples of a delivery network 160include the Internet, the World Wide Web, WANs, LANs, analog or digitalwired and wireless telephone networks (e.g., Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and a typeof Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), radio, television, cable, orsatellite systems, and other delivery mechanisms for carrying data. Thecommunications link 115 may include communication pathways 150 and 155that enable communications through the one or more delivery networks 160described above. Each of the communication pathways 150 and 155 mayinclude, for example, a wired, wireless, cable or satellitecommunication pathway.

The first communication participant system 105 includes a user devicethat typically includes a general-purpose computer 128 having aninternal or external memory for storing data and programs such as anoperating system (e.g., Windows XP™, Windows NT™, OS/1, or Linux) andone or more application programs. Examples of application programsinclude authoring applications (e.g., word processing programs, databaseprograms, spreadsheet programs, or graphics programs) capable ofgenerating documents or other electronic content; user applications(e.g., America Online (AOL) client, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) client,interactive television (ITV) client, Internet Service Provider (ISP)client, communication client or personal communications (IM) client)capable of communicating with other computer 128 users, accessingvarious computer 128 resources, and viewing, creating, or otherwisemanipulating electronic content; and browser applications (e.g.,Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer) capable ofrendering standard Internet content and other content formattedaccording to standard protocols such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP).

One or more of the application programs may be installed on the internalor external storage of the general-purpose computer 128. Alternatively,in another implementation, the user controller 125 may accessapplication programs externally stored in and/or performed by one ormore device(s) external to the general-purpose computer 128.

The general-purpose computer 128 also includes a central processing unit(CPU) for executing instructions in response to commands from the usercontroller 125, and a communication device for sending and receivingdata. One example of the communication device is a modem. Other examplesinclude a transceiver, a set-top box, a communication card, a satellitedish, an antenna, a network adapter, or some other mechanism capable oftransmitting and receiving data over the communications link 115 througha wired or wireless data pathway 150. The general-purpose computer 128optionally includes a television (“TV”) tuner for receiving televisionprogramming in the form of broadcast, satellite, and/or cable TVsignals. The TV tuner permits the user device 120 to selectively and/orsimultaneously display network content received by communications deviceand TV programming content received by the TV tuner.

The general-purpose computer 128 may include an input/output interfacethat enables wired or wireless connection to various peripheral devices126. Examples of peripheral devices 126 include, but are not limited to,a mouse, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an MP3player (not shown), a keyboard, a display monitor with or without atouch screen input, a TV remote control for receiving information fromand rendering information to users, and an audio-visual input device.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates devices such as a mobile telephone, a PDA,and a TV remote control as being peripheral with respect to thegeneral-purpose computer 128, in another implementation, such devicesmay themselves include the functionality of the general-purpose computer128 and operate as the user device 120. For example, the mobile phone orthe PDA may include computing and networking capabilities and functionas a user device 120 by accessing the delivery network 160 andcommunicating with the host system 110. Furthermore, the firstcommunication participant system 105 may include one, some or all of thecomponents and devices described above.

Referring to FIG. 2, a networked computing environment 200 supportscommunications between computer users. Users of the networked computingenvironment 200 are distributed geographically and communicate usinguser systems 210A-210C. Each of the user systems 210A-210C may beimplemented using a user device 120 of FIG. 1, or using another device.The user systems 210A-210C are shown as including, respectively,personal communications applications 215A-215C. A delivery network 260interconnects the user systems 210A-210C. The delivery network 260 maybe the delivery network 160 of FIG. 1, or another network. The usersystems 210A-210C are connected to the delivery network 260 throughcommunication pathways 250. A host system 230 also may be connected tothe delivery network 260 and may be used to facilitate some direct orindirect communications between the user systems 210A-210C. The hostsystem 230 may be the host system 110 of FIG. 1, or another system. Thehost system 230 includes a personal communications server application234.

User systems 210A-210C and the host system 230 include a communicationsinterface (not shown) used by the communications programs to sendcommunications through the delivery network 260. The communications mayinclude e-mail, audio data, video data, general binary data, or textdata (e.g., encoded in American Standard Code for InformationInterchange (ASCII) format). User systems also include one or more inputdevices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a stylus, or a microphone, as wellas one or more output devices, such as a monitor, a touch screen,speakers, or a printer.

The personal communications applications 215A-215C include participantlists that include communications identities (e.g., “buddies” in AOL)with which instant messages are exchanged using the respective usersystems 210A-210C. More particularly, the personal communicationsapplications 215A-215C include a participant list for each user thatuses the user systems 210A-210C to send and receive instant messages.The personal communications applications 215A-215C enable the users tosend and receive instant messages with the user systems 210A-210C.Instant messages are sent between users of the user systems 210A-210Cthrough the personal communications server application 234 on the hostsystem 230. The personal communications server application 234 routesinstant messages sent with the personal communications applications215A-215C. The joint communication component 236 may route jointcommunications from a single user system to multiple user systems210A-210C.

The networked computing environment 200 may be structured and arrangeddifferently. For example, the personal communications applications215A-215C may be remotely accessed by the user systems 210A-210C. Forexample, the applications 215A-215C may be stored on the host system 230and accessed from there.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary GUI 300 includes personalcommunications 310A and 310B and a joint communication selection window340. The GUI 300 may be displayed using the system 200 shown in FIG. 2,or another system. The GUI 300 is a screen shot of the interface shownwhen a user (“Applicant”) who is engaged in personal communicationsconcurrently with “Mad Chatter” and “Silent Fred” initiates a jointcommunication.

The personal communications 310A and 310B include communication text320A and 320B and initiate joint communication options 330A and 330B.The personal communications 310A and 310B enable users to send andreceive text messages in a live format. The text messages are displayedas communication text 320A and 320B. The initiate joint communicationoptions 330A and 330B enable the user to join multiple personalcommunications where, for each user, the communication text for allusers is shown in a single window. When activated, the initiate jointcommunication options 330A and 330B trigger display of the jointcommunication window 340. Various implementations may includepersonalized features in the personal communications 310A and 310B. Forexample, a user specific icon or color may be included in the body ofthe personal communications 310A and 310B.

The joint communication selection window 340 enables a user to input oneor more users to be included in the joint communication. The window 340includes an adjustable list of users 350, an option to joincommunications 360, and an option to set joint communication options370. By adding or subtracting users from the adjustable list 350, theinitiating user selects which users are to be included in the jointcommunication. The option to join communications 360 initiates therendering of the joint communication for the included users. The optionto set communication options 370 provides access to a window configuredto enable joint communications options to be set.

The previous description is an example implementation of a GUI includingpersonal communications and an option to join the personalcommunications. Other implementations may be organized differently ormay include other features. For example, multiple personalcommunications may be separately displayed in a single window includingtabs, such that the tab selected determines the personal communicationdisplayed in front.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary GUI 400 of a communication optionswindow 410 may be displayed in response to selection of the option toset joint communication options 370 of FIG. 3.

The communication options window 410 includes options 420-450 thatenable a user to set characteristics of the joint communication. Acommunication history option 420 enables a user to select whether toinclude previous personal “one-on-one” communications between the usersof the joint communication in the communication text of the jointcommunication. In one implementation, the communication history option420 enables the user to include previous personal communications ofsome, but not all, users. The communication history option 420 mayenable a setting which will display, for each user, all previouscommunications involving the user, in the communication text of thejoint communication. An invitation option 430 enables users to inviteadditional users into the established joint communication. A mediaoption 440 enables a user to include media in the joint communication(e.g., a user may send a picture that is displayed in the communicationtext of the joint communication of some or all of the jointcommunication users). Further, an option enabling a creation or setup ofa previously created list may be included. For example, the option mayinclude inviting a participate list 450 (e.g., an AOL “Buddy List”),automatically inviting all or some individuals in the list.

The previous description is an example implementation of a GUI includinga communication options window. Other implementations may be organizeddifferently or may include other features. For example, in variousimplementations, an option enabling users to invite additional usersassociated with third-party communication software may be included.

Referring to FIG. 5A, an exemplary GUI 500 of a joint communication 510presented to the initiating user (“Applicant”) may be displayed inresponse to a selection of the option to join communications 360 in FIG.3. The joint communication 510 includes communication text history 515,a joining indication 525, joint communication text 530, an option tocancel the joint communication 535, and an option to leave the jointcommunication 540. In the GUI 500, the communication history option 420has been selected to include all previous personal communications thatare between any users included in the joint communication 510. As such,the communication text history 515 that is between Applicant and theother users (“Silent Fred” and “Mad Chatter”) is included, and anycommunication text history between the other included users 520, thoughnot involving Applicant, is also included. This option enables one userof the joint communication 510 to view messages between the other usersfrom before the joint communication 510 is initiated.

The joining indication 525 marks the chronological point at which thejoint communication 510 was formed. Communication text history 515 maybe distinguished from the joint communication text 530 using the joiningindication 525. In other implementations, the communication text history515 may be shown visually differentiated from the joint communicationtext 530 by use of a different color, font, size, or other feature,along with, or as an alternative to, the joining indication 525.

The joint communication text 530 includes communications sent by usersafter the establishment of the joint communication. The sentcommunications are displayed in the order received. The option to cancelthe joint communication 535 enables a user to cancel the jointcommunication for all users. In one implementation, all users areoffered the option to cancel the joint communication 535, in otherimplementations, only the initiating user is offered the option 535. Theoption to leave the joint communication 540 enables a user to exit thejoint communication without canceling the joint communication 510.

Referring to FIG. 5B an exemplary GUI 550 of a joint communication 555presented to “Applicant” and an exemplary GUI 560 of a jointcommunication 565 presented to “Silent Fred” may be displayed inresponse to a selection of the option to join communications 360 in FIG.3. In the GUIs 550 and 560, the communication history option 420 hasbeen selected to include all previous personal communications that arebetween the viewing user and another user of the joint communication.

In the joint communication 555 presented to Applicant, the communicationtext history that is between Applicant and the other users “Silent Fred”and “Mad Chatter” is included and the communication history that isbetween only the other users is not included. In the joint communication565 presented to Silent Fred, the communication text history that isbetween Silent Fred and the other users “Applicant” and “Mad Chatter” isincluded and the communication history that is between only the otherusers is not included. This option enables messages to remain privatesuch that they may only be viewed by the originally intended recipients.

Referring to FIG. 5C an exemplary GUI 580 of a joint communication 585may be displayed in response to a selection of the option to joincommunications 360 in FIG. 3. In the GUI 580, the communication historyoption 420 has been selected such that no communication history isincluded.

The previous descriptions illustrate example implementations of GUIsincluding a joint communication. Other implementations may be organizeddifferently or may include other features. For example, in variousimplementations, the joint communication includes user specificattributes, such as for example, user-specific icons or text colors.Also, joint communication text may first be grouped by user, thengrouped chronologically.

Referring to FIG. 6A, an exemplary process 600 to send jointcommunications is shown. The process 600 may be implemented on thesystem 200 of FIG. 2, or another system. The process 600 begins when afirst communication between a first user and a second user is received(610). The first communication may be a live, text-based communicationfrom a user to a remote second user, such as, for example, an AOLinstant message. The first communication may be received by a servercoordinating and/or directing communications between users. In responseto receiving the first communication, the rendering of the firstcommunication at the first and second user devices is enabled (615). Inone implementation, rendering is enabled by forwarding data associatedwith the first communication to one or both of the devices associatedwith the first and second users. In another implementation, therendering is enabled by forwarding the first communication itself.

A second communication between the first user and a third user isreceived (620). In response to the second communication, the renderingof the second communication at the first and third user devices isenabled (625).

A trigger to join the communication sessions associated with the first,second, and third users is received (630). The trigger may be sent inresponse to a user selecting an option to merge multiple communicationsessions, and may include an identification of the communicationsessions to merge. In response to receipt of the trigger, textassociated with the first and second communications is generated in asingle window at the devices associated with the first, second, andthird users (640).

The previous description is an example implementation of a process forsending joint communications. Other implementations may be organizeddifferently or may include other features. For example, in variousimplementations, users are not required to engage in personalcommunications to initiate joint communications. Also, jointcommunication options may be fixed, which enables users to bypassselection options.

Referring to FIG. 6B, an exemplary process 650 to send jointcommunications may be implemented on the system 200 of FIG. 2, oranother system. The process 650 begins when a user selects an option ina personal communication window to join communications (660). Selectingthe option may include clicking an icon displayed concurrent withcommunication text in a personal communication window.

The user sets the joint communication options including selecting theusers to be included (670). Setting the joint communication options mayinclude selecting options within a personal communications window, orwithin another window. Selecting users to be included may includeselecting from a list of users actively engaged in personalcommunications with the initiating user.

The user selects an option to initiate the joint communication (680).The joint communication is rendered in response to selecting the optionto initiate. The user sends communications within the jointcommunication window (690).

The previous description is an example implementation of a process forsending joint communications. Other implementations may be organizeddifferently or may include other features. For example, in variousimplementations, users are not required to engage in personalcommunications to initiate joint communications. Also, jointcommunication options may be fixed, enabling users to bypass selectionoptions. Further, additional user and communications may be merged intoa joint communication

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for joining online communicationsessions, the method comprising: receiving a first communication betweena first user and a second user; enabling the rendering of the firstcommunication at devices associated with the first and second users;receiving a second communication between the first user and a thirduser; enabling the rendering of the second communication at devicesassociated with the first and third users; receiving, from the first,second, or third user, after receiving the first and secondcommunication, a trigger to join at least the communication sessionsassociated with the first, second, and third users; and generatinginformation structured and arranged to render, in a single window, textassociated with the first and second communications at the devicesassociated with the first, second, and third users.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: receiving a third communication between thesecond user and the third user and enabling the rendering of the thirdcommunication at the devices associated with the second and third usersbefore receiving the trigger; and generating information structured andarranged to render, in a single window, text associated with the first,second, and third communications at the devices associated with thefirst, second, and third users.
 3. The method of claim 1 whereinreceiving a trigger to join at least the communication sessions betweenthe first, second, and third users includes receiving a trigger to jointhe communication sessions between the first, second, third, and afourth user, wherein the fourth user is not involved in a communicationsession with any of the first, second, or third users.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein generating information structured and arranged to rendertext associated with the first and second communications includesgenerating information structured and arranged to render text associatedwith the first and second communications at the device associated withthe fourth user.
 5. The method claim 1 wherein enabling the rendering ofthe first communication session includes generating informationstructured and arranged to render information associated with the firstcommunication at only either one or both of the devices associated witheither the first or second users.
 6. A method for joining onlinecommunication sessions, the method comprising: sending, from a user tomultiple specified users, a trigger to join two or more user-to-usercommunication sessions which include previous user communications tomultiple specified users, into a joint communication session; rendering,at a device associated with the user, the joint communication sessionincluding some or all of the text rendered in each of the usercommunications prior to the sending of the trigger; and rendering at thedevice associated with the user, future communications directed to thejoint communication from users associated with the joint communication.7. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the communicationsessions was not rendered at the device associated with the user priorto the sending of the trigger.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein sendinga trigger to join two or more user-to-user communication sessionsincludes sending a trigger configured to establish a joint communicationin which at least some of the text associated with each previous usercommunication is included in the rendered joint communication.
 9. Themethod of claim 6 wherein sending a trigger to join two or moreuser-to-user communication sessions includes sending a triggerconfigured to establish a joint communication in which at least some ofthe text associated with each previous user communication involving theuser is included in the rendered joint communication.
 10. The method ofclaim 6 wherein sending a trigger to join two or more user-to-usercommunication sessions includes sending a trigger configured toestablish a joint communication in which none of the text of previoususer communications is included in the rendered joint communication. 11.The method of claim 6 wherein sending a trigger to join two or moreuser-to-user communication sessions includes sending a triggerconfigured to establish a joint communication in which users notincluded in the user-to-user communication sessions are enabled to beincluded in the joint communication.
 12. The method of claim 11 whereinsending a trigger to join two or more user-to-user communicationsessions includes sending a trigger configured to establish a jointcommunication in which, after the joint communication is rendered, usersnot included in the user-to-user communication sessions are enabled tobe included in the joint communication.
 13. The method of claim 6wherein sending a trigger to join two or more user-to-user communicationsessions includes sending a trigger configured to establish a jointcommunication in which a user may send media content to be rendered withthe joint communication session.
 14. The method of claim 6 furthercomprising rendering user communications in the joint communication inchronological order.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprisingrendering a chronological indication between user communicationsoccurring before establishment of the joint communication and usercommunications after establishment of the joint communication.
 16. Anarticle comprising a computer-readable medium having encoded thereonsoftware for enabling rendering of a joint communication, the softwareincluding instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause thecomputer to: enable the establishment and rendering of a first instanceof a joint communication at devices associated with joint communicationusers, the first instance including: text associated with user-to-usercommunications which were originally sent from and to the jointcommunication users, and text associated with a first communication sentfrom any of the joint communication users; and enable the establishmentand rendering of a second instance of the joint communication at adevice associated with an additional user, after the sending of thefirst communication, the second instance including: text associated withuser-to-user communications which were originally sent from and to thejoint communication users, text associated with a user-to-usercommunication between a user of the joint communication and theadditional user, and text associated with the first instance of thejoint communication sent from any of the joint communication users. 17.The article of claim 16 further comprising instructions to enable textassociated with communications in the joint communication to be renderedin chronological order.
 18. The article of claim 17 further comprisinginstructions to enable the joint communication to include achronological indication between text associated with communicationsbefore the establishment of the joint communication and text associatedwith communications after the establishment of the joint communication.19. The article of claim 16 further comprising instructions to enablethe joint communication users to be connected to the Internet usingmultiple communication programs.
 20. The article of claim 16 furthercomprising instructions to enable the joint communication to be closedfor all users by the selection of an option to cancel by one of thejoint communication users.